North Somerset

North Somerset's population increased by about 14,000 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 200,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of North Somerset increased by 7.4%, from just under 189,000 to 203,000.

The addition of just over 14,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, North Somerset was home to, on average, 3.9 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older North Somerset

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of North Somerset increased by two years, from 42 to 44 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 7,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 4,000.

About 13.0% of people in North Somerset are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and North Somerset by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

North Somerset saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (8.8%) households in North Somerset had a single parent, compared with 7.3% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising a married couple decreased from 39.8% to 35.6%.

Across the region, only South Gloucestershire (from 7.5% to 9.4%) and Wiltshire (from 7.3% to 9.0%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of single-parent households.

During this period, North Somerset went from having the 22nd-highest to the twelfth-highest percentage of single-parent households out of 309 English local authority areas.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in North Somerset

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in North Somerset was among those who said they had no religion, rising 14.6 points.

In 2011, 32.5% of respondents in North Somerset gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 17.9% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in North Somerset, 65.9% said they were Christian, compared with 81.0% in 2001. About 0.1% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 8.0% to 8.1%.

In North Somerset, 7.5% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, the same percentage as in 2001. In South West, 7.9% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in North Somerset increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South West and North Somerset by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in North Somerset

The percentage of North Somerset residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.7% to 89.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.5%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.8% in 2001. The percentage of North Somerset residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 7.5%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 90.0% in 2001 to 89.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in North Somerset, but at a slower rate than in Bristol (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with North Somerset).

In North Somerset, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.2% in 2001 to 16.2% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Bristol increased from 13.3% to 23.6%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11.1% to 17.0%.

The rate of social housing in North Somerset remained close to 9.2%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 78.8% to 73.0%.

Private renting in North Somerset increased by 7 percentage points

Percentage of households in North Somerset, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of North Somerset residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.6% to 5.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81.1%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69.0% in 2001. The percentage of North Somerset residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.4% to 13.7%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in North Somerset decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in North Somerset, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in North Somerset

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here, but at a slower rate than in nearby Bristol.

In North Somerset, the proportion of single people increased from 23.3% in 2001 to 26.8% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Bristol increased from 40.2% to 47.0%.

Across the South West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27.1% to 31.4%.

The proportion of married people in North Somerset fell from 56.5% to 52.5%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10.9% to 12.6%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in North Somerset working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.2% to 10.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13.3% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in North Somerset decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in North Somerset, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of North Somerset residents that were unemployed increased from 2.1% to 3.0% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 54.3%, while the percentage of North Somerset residents that were self-employed increased from 9.7% to 10.6%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of North Somerset residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.9% to 2.3% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.0% in 2001 to 2.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in North Somerset remained close to 2.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and North Somerset by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in North Somerset with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 8.4% to 8.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (27.1%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 27.9% in 2001. While the percentage of households in North Somerset without children increased from 63.8% to 64.6%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.4% in 2001 to 8.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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